Two million euros under the microscope. These are the ones that entrepreneurs have paid to Giovanni Toti since 2016. The governor of Liguria arrested in the investigation into corruption in Liguria now sees contributions above 40 thousand euros being sifted through. At the center is the Change Foundation. And the crime complained of is different: illicit financing. Pietro Colucci, landfill entrepreneur, paid 195 thousand euros between 2016 and 2020. In some cases without registration. But the investigators do not find a counterpart. Meanwhile, prosecutors are also investigating Toti’s election dinners. To participate the price has been lowered: from one thousand to 450 euros. But the number of guests has grown. They are organized by the President’s Committee after reports from Bank of Italy on suspicious transactions. And according to the prosecutor’s office they were also a way to compensate for favors received.
The other investigation
The corruption file, explains today Republic, arose from another investigation into illicit financing. But for this reason the investigators have sifted through the two million who arrived in recent years. Among these are the 20 thousand euros from Luigi Amico, president of Amico&Co, leader in the renovation of superyachts. He is also under investigation for corruption. Colucci instead paid 195 thousand. Maurizio Rossi, publisher of Primocanale, is under investigation for illicit financing. While Francesco Moncada, director of Esselunga, also sees corruption being contested against him. The two reach an agreement to finance Marco Bucci, mayor of Genoa who is not under investigation, through an Esselunga advertisement on the Primocanale LEDs. Among the financiers there are also 100 thousand euros from Vincenzo Onorato, a shipowner, or those from oil companies like Costantino of Europam. But also Gianluigi Aponte, owner of MSC.
President’s dinners
Then there are the president’s dinners. According to the prosecutor’s office, they were also used to compensate for favors received. In that of 10 March 2023 Aldo Spinelli must repay Toti for help in a building speculation, that of Punta dell’Olmo in Celle Ligure. According to investigating judge Paola Faggioni, it was also possible to participate through a third party, with minimal and fragmented fees so as not to make the financing traceable. According to the investigating judge, as the electoral deadlines approached, Toti’s needs increased. And in order to achieve victory for himself or for the lists and candidates supported by his movement, he would have been ready to “sell out his function and his activity in exchange for funding, thus abdicating his important institutional duties”.
600 guests
The last one, which dates back to April 2024, had 600 guests. To participate, a subscription of 450 euros per person was required and the event was sold out the day before the event. In 2023 the per capita quota for dinner was quite high (450 euros). In the order of investigating judge Faggioni it is reported that on 6 March 2023 a credit of 900 euros was made “from the current account held in the name of Centroservizi Derna srl (Spinelli Group), referable to the participation fee of two people”. While on March 10th «a credit of 2,700 euros was recorded from the current account held in the name of Spinelli srl, referable to the participation fee for n. 6 people.” The same amounts, for a total of €3,600.00, we then read, “are also noted in the Register of entities providing contributions to the Giovanni Toti Liguria Committee for the month of March 2023”.
